Speakers:
- Sabrina W.J. Husain: Google Scholar ResearchGate

- Agnesha P.A. Karamoy, English Language and Literature Study Program, Universitas Negeri Manado -

- Gidion Maru: Academia.edu, ORCID, Google Scholar ResearchGate

Abstract: »Sexual violence remains a persistent issue both in society and in literature, where narratives often reflect or challenge dominant cultural attitudes. Alice Sebold’s The Lovely Bones portrays the brutal rape and murder of a young girl, Susie Salmon, a narrative that exposes how patriarchal structures normalize and sustain violence against women. The novel not only illustrates patriarchy as a system of male dominance but also resonates with contemporary social issues such as rape culture, victim blaming, and the problematic ways sexual violence is represented in popular media. This study aims to analyze how the novel’s portrayal of sexual violence reflects or challenges societal attitudes toward the issue, employing radical feminist theory as proposed by Kate Millett in Sexual Politics. Using qualitative descriptive analysis and close reading, the research focuses on three aspects: the reflection of patriarchy in which sexual violence functions as a tool of male dominance, the presence of gender stereotypes that may justify or normalize abuse, and the representation of victims as weak, passive, or resistant. The findings indicate that the novel highlights sexual violence as a symptom of systemic patriarchy, questions harmful stereotypes surrounding victims, and portrays Susie in a way that both reveals her vulnerability and asserts her narrative agency. The implications of this study extend beyond literary criticism: they encourage broader discussions on social policy and education related to preventing sexual violence, fostering awareness of patriarchal oppression, and reframing societal perceptions of victims in contemporary culture.« (Source: Paper)

Wikipedia: History of the Americas: History of the Unite States | Literature: American literature / Alice Sebold | Literature: Novels about rape / The Lovely Bones | Sex and the law: Rape / Rape in the United States